As per a new research, the competitive pricing plans that telecom majors Etisalat and du have started to offer, has led to lowering of mobile service charges, including call tariffs, in the UAE in the GCC and among the 22 Arab countries.

It was after the Telecommunications Regulatory Authority (TRA) announced plans to deregulate the industry, that the competitive prices were introduced.

TRA Director-General Mohamed Nasser Al Ghanim expressed that as of now, both operators in the UAE are providing lucrative pricing plans, specifically for voice services, which is an indication of the continued development of healthy competition in the UAE mobile market.

It should be noted that it is after the regulatory authority's recent announcement of moves to deregulate the industry that these prices cuts have appeared. By the end of this year, these changes could be put in operation that might not allow the telecom operators engaging in anti-competitive behavior such as predatory pricing.

There was a minor downward trend in the prices, following this announcement, with mobile broadband prices plummeting and annual connection fees also being scrapped.

Analysts explained that there would be a positive affect on price points in the UAE and the wider region, following the introduction of new services and plans.